New York – Today, New York families impacted by police violence joined progressive and community organizations to slam the state’s legislative leaders and Governor Cuomo for failing to pass the Safer NY Act, a package of bills designed to increase police accountability and enhance public safety for all New Yorkers.

New York, NY – Police accountability advocates today slammed the Charter Revision Commission for failing to approve reforms this week that were recommended by dozens of organizations committed to increasing public safety for New Yorkers.

Families of those killed by police slam Governor for threatening to rollback special prosecutor Executive Order

Albany - Today, a coalition of more than one hundred organizations from across New York called on Governor Cuomo and state legislative leaders to pass the Safer NY Act, a package that includes a bill to repeal 50-a (New York’s harmful police secrecy law), a bill to strengthen the Special Prosecutor Executive Order, a bill to increase transparency of police interactions and other police accountability bills.

New York, NY – Today, more than 40 advocacy and community-based organizations sent a joint letter to the Charter Revision Commission calling for changes to the New York City Charter that will increase police accountability and transparency.

The letter comes in advance of the Charter Revision Commission’s June 12 meeting in which Commissioners will decide on final proposals for revising the New York City Charter that will appear on the November 2019 ballot.

16 New York family members whose loved ones were killed by police officers in New York state over the past twenty five years, called on Cuomo today to back (A1601A/S2574A) by Assemblymember Nick Perry and Senator Jamaal Bailey, after he threatened Monday to revoke the special prosecutor executive order he signed in 2015. The Perry/Bailey bill strengthens the 2015 executive order issued by Governor Cuomo and has previously passed the Assembly multiple times. Families call on all leaders to enact this and other important reform measures before the end of the legislative session June 19. Specifically, they called for the repeal NYS CRL Section 50-a, a controversial law known as the "police secrecy law" (A2513-O'Donnell/S3695-Bailey) before the end of session, and before the 5 year anniversary of the killing of Eric Garner by NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo.

New York, NY – Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), a leading voice for racial justice and police accountability in New York City, released the following statement today following the passage of Police Stat Act [A5472A/S1830B] legislation out of the New York State Assembly’s Codes Committee.

New York – Police accountability advocates and organizers today applauded New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson for calling for the repeal of 50-a, New York’s harmful police secrecy law. 50-a is a controversial and widely criticized state law that advocates and elected officials are seeking to repeal in the current legislative session. It has been used to block the release of crucial information about misconduct committed by police officers and what, if any, disciplinary consequences they have faced for their actions.

New York, NY – Police accountability organizers present at NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo’s trial today said testimony from a key NYPD witness confirmed that a chokehold unequivocally prohibited by the NYPD for over 20 years was used to kill Eric Garner.

“Pantaleo’s entire legal defense was discredited today by NYPD Inspector Dee. Pantaleo’s lawyers have been falsely claiming that Pantaleo didn't use a chokehold when he killed Eric Garner. But as the NYPD Inspector noted today in trial, not only were chokeholds banned without exception at the time Eric was choked and killed, so-called "seatbelt maneuvers" were not even taught when Pantaleo was in the police academy, or when he went through plainclothes officer training,” said Loyda Colon, Co-Director of the Justice Committee and a spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR).